Imperial Star Artichoke

Imperial Star Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus 217 days —'Imperial Star' plants are compact, upright, and reach about fifty-seven inches at maturity. The first flower head is ready to harvest in about 217 days from seeding, with up to six secondary shoots that extend the harvest period to about fifty days. The flower heads are large (four to five inches in diameter), tight, spherical in shape, a waxy or glossy bright green color, with slight purple coloration near the bottom of the flowers. Unlike most common cultivars, 'Imperial Star' is thornless. Artichoke flowers are an excellent delicacy when boiled or steamed until tender, served hot, and the inner petal tips and hearts dipped in melted lemon-butter (some of my family like to dip them in mayonnaise). In general, artichokes are an interesting and attractive perennial with huge, edible flower buds and stalks. They can be grown as an annual if you sow the seeds indoors in mid to late winter and set out after all danger of frost